Steffi Graf is Kerala's Ayurveda brand ambassador

Tennis legend Steffi Graf was appointed the Ayurveda brand ambassador of Kerala on Wednesday.

A decision in this regard was taken by the cabinet Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.

The Kerala tourism department was given sanction to sign an agreement with Graf to become Ayurveda brand ambassador as part of the department's 'Visit Kerala Scheme', Chandy said. The tourism department had already held discussions and reached an agreement with the German former World Number 1 tennis player, who had bagged 22 Grand Slam single titles.

The 46-year-old Graf, who retired in 1999, married men's tennis great Andre Agassi in October 2001.

Kerala's Ayurveda, an ancient system of health care which is famous for its holistic effect on body and mind, attracts large number of people from the country and abroad every year.

Image: Tennis great Steffi Graf. Photograph: Jan Pitman/Getty Images